Ward said the AKC collects information based on dog owners who actually register their breed with the organization, and in Detroit, dog registration on any level is "chronically low."

Ward said he does see a healthy number of German Shepherds and Rottweilers, which were ranked no. 1 and no.2 respectively on the AKC list.

Fewer than 15 percent of the estimated 50,000 dogs in Detroit are registered, Ward believes. He said between the Michigan Humane Society, the Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society and animal control, about 15,000 dogs are removed from the streets of Detroit each year and it doesn't seem to make a dent in the overall dog population.

Of over 800 bite reports made to Detroit Animal Control last year, the "vast majority" were inflicted by pit bull-type dogs, according to Ward.

He says his agency, with on bite investigators and six animal control officers is extremely understaffed for the problems it faces in Detroit, where the landscape is increasingly opened and offering of abandoned homes and possible shelters to strays.

To register a dog in the city of Detroit, owners may visit their veterinarian to receive a mail-in licensing from. The cost is $15 for animals that can breed and $10 for animals that are fixed, a cost much lower than in many other surrounding communities, said Ward.

The city also allows owners to register their animals at one of four recreation centers; Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval; Farwell Recreation Center, 2781 E. Outer Dr.; Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere; or Williams Community Center, 8431 Rosa Parks.

Detroit Animal Control center took in 1,723 dogs in 2011, of which 1,137 were stray.

The center does not adopt out animals directly, but works with the Human Society to adopt out animals deemed to be candidates to become good companion pets, said Ward.